Yes...I am aware...I have been MIA...off the grid somewhat. I haven't updated this blog or posted any finished pieces. I got a little distracted...by moving...traveling...sparkly thangs...wedding-related happenings, just to name a few. Wait, just keep reading. Here is what went down... Moving...The major event that has impacted the past few weeks has been the move farther south. I obsessively packed and organized for this move, through things away, gave things to Goodwill, cleaned…but moving is never easy. Our move took all in all a couple of trips back and forth, a little over an hour each way. We are in our new place now, still getting used to living in a more metropolitan area and a smaller space…but so far so good. But boy let me tell ya...MOVING STINKS! Boo! Hiss! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to our friends and family for all of your help! We are slowly getting it all unpacked....it's a slow process! Creative Space...I am still working on my creative space(s) in our new place...so far the dining room table has been my main spot. I like to look out the window, and I love the natural light. Before my trip to NC I did manage to start to carve out a small studio corner in the second bedroom...so much more work to do with this area but I will get to it. I have been doing so much running around that my studio space really a bag I carry around with me. All in due time... Chentelly’s Quinceañera...One project that I can now share that I was working on the week that I moved are some decorations I made for one of my former cheerleaders. Chentelly’s mom had asked me way back during basketball season about doing some decorations for a beach/shell-themed Quinceañera. I agreed and we met earlier this summer for planning and a to pick up a few materials. I was originally supposed to go the event and actually help set up…but that fell through when we had to change our ‘big move’ date. However, I still made some decor for her event, listed and pictured below.
Maria’s Wedding Shower...The most recent happening was my trip to North Carolina for Maria’s bridal shower. I was one of the hostesses for the shower in Southern Pines, along with the other MOH, her aunts and her cousin. Prior to event I had painted a small watercolor that I scanned and used for the invitations. The day of the event Audrey and I decorated, mainly flower arrangements from flowers we picked up at the grocery store, which we placed in measuring cups to keep with the kitchen theme. Everything turned out great! Aunt Jan, Aunt Sandra, Audrey and Alessandra- we did it! Special thanks to Ironwood and the Bakehouse, the food was great...and of course thank you to our family at Vito's Southern Pines for the venue. And then some...Originally I was going to go back to North Carolina with Maria's aunt and cousin via car, but Maria wanted me to stay and help with the huge list of to-do’s that she had been trying to tackle. So…I did, and we accomplished SO MUCH. I cannot even begin to list everything that we were able to check off that list in less than a forty-eight hour period…but among the items were visiting the venue, her bridal fitting, finding shoes and bridal jewelry, deciding on tuxes, finalizing flower girl and ring bearer attire, working on the music list, organizing the ‘wedding closet’, making some gifts, deciding on flowers and making centerpiece mock-ups…and so…much…more. Wow. Makes me tired just thinking about it. I can’t post pictures of most of this now, but once the wedding happens in November I will post pictures of all of my ‘artsy’ touches. It is going to be such a beautiful day, I can’t wait! July Series...My July series stayed unfinished for basically the last two weeks of the month due to traveling to VA, DE, Washington DC, moving and the trip to NC. I faithfully started my pieces each day with the intentions to finish them, only to get bombarded with…well…life. I am the hardest on myself, and after some major soul-searching I decided to be at peace with the fact that I at least started my daily pieces, which I just kept packing and unpacking as I moved from place to place. I did simplify the series to just the sunglasses with eyes during this period, mainly to help me get them finished and not drive myself crazy. A few more tweaks and I will post these last pieces. ...traveling art studio... August Series...Something that hasn’t been posted are my August pieces, another group of works I have been schlepping to and fro. The suggested theme for August is ‘Cycles’…which left me scratching my head. Maybe it is the stress, the fact that I am having a hard time focusing on any one thing…all of this…but I really had a hard time coming up with an idea for this. I kept looking at the word ‘cycle’ and thinking of things going around…cyclic…then I thought of circles….and finally I decided to work with a circle motif in my pieces this month. Someway…somehow…a circle. For the initial pieces have started off by tracing a circle with my charcoal pencil onto toned gray paper…starting with a single eye…and only trying to render the area inside the circle...anything outside the area can just be line, unfinished. I think for me the eyes are not only a favorite subject/theme in my work, but an area where I feel safe and secure…which I kind of need right now with my chaotic life. Also, giving myself that area inside the circle helps me focus on developing just one area, a ‘star’ as Mr. Elmore used to call it. Per usual…we’ll see where this goes...I just...I just need to finish these pieces! Aughhh!!! Oh summer vacation, how I love thee. Lastly... I am in my last minutes of summer vacation. Tomorrow is my first day of work at my new job and I am too excited and nervous to sleep...which is why I am updating this here blog. Today when John picked me up from the airport we went home, walked to the beach, had a slice of pizza and some frozen yogurt and took in the view and the ocean breeze. I waved goodbye to summer. (but not the beach, are you crazy?!) I will miss you summer vacation...but time to go back to work!
#1 travel partner, John!
...just some pics from our recent trip...not a ton of time to blog (or relax, nap...all my favorite things! boo!) because...we are MOVING! Aughhh!!! Tomorrow! So...umm...before I start freaking out...too late...here are some pics from our recent travels. After some artin' on the plane the first stop was Virginia to see my good friend and sorority sister, Lauren. She has twin girls and this was our first meeting, they are fun little girls, into everything! I managed to get in a nap, make friends with her three cats (which made me feel better since Pumpkin, Ed and Sarah's cat, hated me!) , personalize two chairs for the girls and turn her kitchen table into an art studio for the night. I love our friends, we just pick right up no matter how long it's been. I LOVE YOU LAUREN, B AND THE LITTLE ONES! TAKE CARE OF FRANKIE AND FRANNIE THE FLAMINGOS! Next up, drive on up to Delaware to see Bryan and Kristen before they move to Washington state. Bryan and John have both gone through the PhD program together, and now Kristen and I are friends, too...we have suffered together through this dissertation process! TBryan and Kristen have a laid back spot at the beach for the summer, it was a much needed mini-vacation. Adventures incuded crabbin' (if you know me then you know I am NOT outdoorsy, so you can imagine me out there...I did okay, and it was actually fun!)...yep, turning the coffee table into an art space...much coffee and even some angel drops. GOOD LUCK IN WASHINGTON, DEPTULAS- CAN'T WAIT TO COME SEE YOU! And finally...a little sight-seeing in DC before our flight. John had never been to the capitol and we did our best but we will have to go back, that's for sure. Highlights of our teeny tiny trip to DC include leaps at the FDR memorial... tears in my eyes at the MLK memorial...being moved at the WWII memorial...and giving ol' Abe a thumbs up. Good times. So...that might be it for a few days while I finish packing and help get all this stuff down south. I am sure I will still post to IG, so check that out (@artinw_damuse)...and I don't plan on letting this moving business stop me from making my art- no way!
Thank you in advance to Jessie, Adam, Sof and Tyson for helping us tomorrow...omg, THANK YOU!!!! Back from a MUCH NEEDED mini-vacation (more on that later, when I have more time to blog) ...I sat down last night when we got back home to finish up all the work that I started when I was traveling...added a little watercolor here, a little acrylic there...got up this morning and added a some more layers of color, did some outlining.... then took pics of the work...
I was just sitting here editing the pictures to post to my FB and web and I realized that I hit the 200 mark. Just like that, 200 days of art making, being CREATIVE EVERY DAY, have come and gone...and this isn't the last pic I have to add today! I still have a few pieces to finish editing, and keep in mind that there are about 70 pieces out there in addition to the daily pieces...winter ladies, crazy cat ladies, eyes, msc. commissions and, of course, fashion illustrations. But I just had to stop for a minute and have this mini-celebration for my commitment to making art. I feel good, but there is more art to make, enterpieces for a quinceañera to finish, boxes to pack for the big move...maybe even a nap somewhere in there.... ...new work pattern for this week...teach art camp all day...nap...work out...pack...freak out because I have to pack...shower...start daily drawing in pencil...go over with pen...finish the color work the following day...REPEAT.
Okay. So I have alot of clothes. Like...mucho. But one thing that I think I do well is keep it all organized. Everything is seperated by color (I like to use this order, W, ROGBV, Gray and then Black)...short sleeved shirts are all together, then long sleeved shirts, cardigans, dresses..tanks and t-shirts on a shelf (stacked in color order) handbags groups by color, strappy/halter and strapless tops together in bins...I have been called OCD...but I have also been called to help organize a closet or two, and it is something that I love to do. Wow, what a nerd, huh? But the thing is...regardless of how organized it all is...I still have to move it, which is stressful. So I have devised a way to move my clothes and accessories based on the way that I organized my closet, making use of crates and containers. I have been using this technique for a little while, and with the invention of Pinterest I have been able to see that there are other organization-obsessed folks out there doing basically the same thing. I have a few additional crazy details...but they work for me. I have been texting pictures of my packing progress to my close friends, really just so I have some accountability...and because they keep me motivated. Out of our group of friends, three of the couples are moving either this month or next, so we can all relate/freak out together. Anyway, my friend Jen said I should share my technique so here goes. (and BTW...she is an AMAZING writer! Check out her blog, http://www.jenscrazylife.com/ A few scenes from today...still have to start my daily piece, the one posted is from last night...gonna be a late start, but a start nonetheless, even if I have to finish it tomorrow sometime...anyway, I am also posting two fashion illustrations that I worked on today.
A note about last night's piece. I purposefully added the rose colored glasses and the tear based on events in the news, I was working on this piece around 10pm last night, Saturday July 13th. I am not going to go into any explaination, but there is meaning in these two details Besides the two fashion illustrations, I worked on...yep, packing. I took some pictures that I hope will show a few helpful tips for moving...will post in a future blog. (man, packing really wears you out!) Better start my daily work so I can get some sleep...I am teaching art camp tomorrow!!!! zzzzzzzz |
AuthorArtist and Art Teacher
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